Two years after Checkpoint Systems released its Halo IoT retail software platform, the firm updated its app with additional RFID-powered capabilities to increase the efficiency of omnichannel operations, including BOPIS.
The newest release of Halo will support in-store fulfillment using inventory data supplied by Checkpoint Systems’ RFID retail solutions. According to the company, brick-and-mortar staff will be supplied with real-time data including the location of ordered items and a virtual schedule to help with packing items for shipment and pick-up on location.
This update is likely to increase both in-store productivity and customer satisfaction, Checkpoint Systems said.
“Today, to pack an order, the store associate typically uses a printout from the ERP system to look for products in the store. Some items might be already sold, some misplaced,” Phil Fisher, product manager for Halo, said in a statement. “The associate will lose time looking for them and will sometimes have to reject the order. Halo uses near real-time inventory data and supports the associate with an easy to use app throughout the in-store fulfillment process, making it fast and efficient.”
Utilizing Halo’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) functionalities, retailers can identify each and every piece of merchandise in their supply chain using RFID tags that can then be read and recorded in distribution centers and stores.
According to Checkpoint Systems, when installed into an existing enterprise resource planning and warehouse management software system, Halo can also help drive increased inventory accuracy and on-shelf availability, boosting units per hour fulfilled and bolstering sales.
“We continuously invest in logistics and IT to streamline the consumer-oriented omnichannel model,” Daniel Muñoz, operations director for Spanish brand Desigual, added. “With Halo’s new in-store fulfillment functionality, we expect to further optimize operations through inventory accuracy, creating a new level of customer satisfaction.”
Retail employees can use Halo for cycle counts, display compliance, receiving goods and replenishing shelves. With data supplied by RFID tags and readers, Halo can also help to properly distribute products among stores based on their current location and availability.
In 2018, Checkpoint Systems increased RFID’s retail versatility by introducing a tag that can be used with delicate garments like lingerie. The company’s NeedleLok RFID tag is capable of keeping tabs on products without puncturing fabric.